Carbon Footprints » Forces for Good

Australia's Carbon Pricing Scheme has been announced

Dave Sag — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 11:38:17 +0000

At noon today AEST Australian Prime Minister Julian Gillard announced the details of her government’s carbon pollution pricing scheme, saying “The science is in, we know that our climate is changing.” Here’s the main points.

A starting price of $23 per tonne of ‘carbon pollution’ (measured as CO₂ equivalent) to be paid by the 500 heaviest emitters and increasing by 2.5% over and above normal inflation, followed by a move to an emissions trading scheme in 2015,
AU$9.2 billion of this money will go to assist many of the businesses and workers impacted by the plan,
There will be tax cuts and pension increases to protect people from the inevitable price gouging by the major polluters, with a leap in the tax-free income threshold from $6k to $18k,
AU$1.2 billion Clean Technology Program intended to drive energy efficiency in manufacturing and to support research and development,
The closure of Australia’s most polluting electricity generators, to be replaced with gas-fired units by 2020,
A $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation with a mission to to finance new clean energy technology,
An Australian Renewable Energy Agency (AREnA) to manage $3.2 billion in clean energy investment,
A target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020,
and agriculture to be excluded from paying the carbon price in the immediate term.

All in all this is a massive leap forward for Australia with an emissions reduction trajectory being locked in at 5% reductions on 2000 figures by 2020, building up to n 80% reduction on 2000 figures by 2050. While personally I would have liked to see a more aggressive trajectory, with 20% below 1990 levels by 2020 and complete decarbonisation of the economy by 2050, the political realities in Australia simply ruled this out.

The full details are available on cleanenergyfuture.gov.au. — DS

Technorati Tags: Australia, carbon emissions, carbon price, carbon tax, CO2

Taking a 'Systems Approach' to forest carbon accounting methodology could reduce annual emissions by up to 5%

Dave Sag — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:22:07 +0000

Following on from my last post, Carbon Planet has made its own formal announcement of the VCSA approval of its IFM LtPF forestry carbon accounting methodology. The announcement goes into considerable detail about some of the specifics. What I am impressed by is that the methodology takes a ’systems view’ approach, and as a result is a far more comprehensive forest carbon accounting methodology than has ever previously been developed in this sector.

”The methodology is the only IFM-LtPF methodology that calculates the impact of logging operations on greenhouse gas emissions in addition to the forest degradation itself,” said Dr Williams. “The methodology also includes calculations for the greenhouse gas impact of the forest conservation project itself, in the form of emissions from project implementation and monitoring.”

Carbon Planet’s methodology adopts a systems approach to assess the physical, biological, and biochemical processes that occur during timber harvesting. This is a significantly more comprehensive approach than the alternative “carbon stock change” method because, in addition to the forest degradation due to the removal of harvested trees, emissions due to damage to the non-harvested trees surrounding the harvested trees (“residual stand damage”) are also accounted for.

“Ultimately, for the people who own the forest, the more complete the methodology, the more accurate the calculations, and the more carbon credits can be issued.” Dr Williams said.

My sincere hope is that our IFM LtPF methodology is used far-and-wide to underpin a wholesale change in the way forest products are priced and to underpin massive reductions in annual deforestation rates. Certainly, looking at our own pipeline of projects that have been in development for years now but awaiting the methodology’s approval, and knowing how many other REDD project developers there are out there who have also been waiting for the approval of a methodology such as ours, it ought to unlock literally billions of tonnes of GHG emissions reduction per year.

Consider some back-of-the-envelope numbers:


The world emits roughly 60 billion excess tonnes of CO₂e per annum.
Deforestation (much of which is sanctioned logging) accounts for roughly 20% of that, ie 12 billion tonnes CO₂e.
 If you assume that, of that, sanctioned logging makes up half of that, and half of those forests are tropical (very low-ball estimates,) that's a possible 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions reduction per year that could in theory be attributed to projects based on this methodology,or around 5% of the world's total annual emissions.

It’s enough to offset all the concrete production in the world, or all the world’s international shipping, or the whole airline industry (and then some).

To be responsible for 5% of the world’s emissions was one of the goals we set ourselves when Carbon Planet got started. It was a big hairy audacious goal indeed when we agreed on it. But now, years later, we’ve developed technologies like our first approved forest carbon accounting methodology, and our awesome G3MS carbon accounting system, which is being used by accountants, and emissions management consultants to develop emissions reduction strategies for large and small businesses, and our Operation: Coolenation junior climate science education programme having won awards and being adopted by primary schools, meaning that, for future-kids the science behind global warming will be utterly uncontroversial.

What’s exciting is I can see this goal actually being achievable.

Technorati Tags: carbon, carbon accounting, carbon credits, carbon emissions, forest carbon, forests, hope, methodology, optimism, REDD, trees, VCS, VCSA, VCU

VCSA Approves Carbon Planet's Methodology

Dave Sag — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:36:13 +0000

Carbon Planet is very excited to announce that the VCSA has approved our carbon accounting methodology for estimating the GHG reductions that come with transitioning a logged forest to a protected forest.

Why is this important?

Deforestation and land degradation contributes close to ¹/₅th of the world’s excess greenhouse gas emissions. Under business-as-usual the world loses a massive amount of tropical rainforest in particular every year. There are many drivers of deforestation but overwhelmingly the main driver is poverty and subsistence forest-resource dependance. Forest peoples of the world tend to be poor, tend to be exploited, and tend to earn money by ripping up their forests. REDD projects propose a mechanism, currently being run under the auspices of the VCSA, to pay forest peoples to maintain their forests using revenues derived from the sale of carbon credits called VCUs, rather than log them for short-term profits.

Until now there has been no accurate and approved way to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions reductions that come with taking a forest that is being logged, and turning it into a protected forest; a major stumbling block to project developers everywhere. Without an approved methodology there can be no project, and thus no VCUs and thus no money.

Carbon Planet’s methodology, (See The VCSA for more info,) was developed over a three year period and was designed to be highly flexible in terms of forest types, and yet highly accurate, and presented in a clear and informative manner. It clears a massive hurdle that the forest carbon market has been facing, and we fully expect to see an increasing number of quality forest carbon projects start formal development.

In its official announcement of Carbon Planet’s ‘IFM LtPF’ methodology, the VCSA makes the point:

“This offers a flexible new approach for financing projects that reduce logging in forested areas,” said VCS CEO David Antonioli. “Using carbon finance as an alternative source of income provides an important incentive for more sustainable forest management practices.”

I believe it is no idle boast to suggest that the launch of Carbon Planet’s methodology marks a great day for the forests, and forest peoples of the world.

Finally, my heartfelt and personal thanks go out to Carbon Planet’s scientific team, present and past, who have laboured so hard, under at times highly adverse conditions, to get this work done. It’s been a hard road, cutting new ground (probably the wrong metaphor I know), and experiencing first hand the trials and tribulations of forest carbon project development, and you’ve pulled through it all with a fine piece of work. Well done all of you. You have a right to feel proud of this achievement. — DS

Technorati Tags: carbon, carbon credit, climate, Climate Change, deforestation, forest carbon, forests, IFM, IFM LtPF, methodology, REDD, VCS, VCSA, VCU, VM0011

Introducing Operation: Coolenation

Dave Sag — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:03:58 +0000

Operation: Coolenation® is the primary school education resource that teaches the science of climate change to younger kids, and their teachers. In the video above, Operation: Coolenation programme manager, Pearl Tassell, introduces the programme.

Find out more from cooleantion.com, or check out the facebook page or follow @coolenation on Twitter. — DS

Technorati Tags: Climate Change, climate science, education, kids, schools, science

PM Gillard to 're-prosecute a price on carbon'.

Dave Sag — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:46:28 +0000

In her first speech as Australian Prime Minister, the nation’s first female Prime Minister vowed to re-prosecute the case for a price on Carbon..

This is very encouraging news. Since the Rudd Government decided to shy-away from its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, it has been punished in the polls for its perceived spinelessness. Prime Minister Gillard, who seized power this morning in what has been termed a ‘bloodless coup,’ went on to say:

It is my intention to lead a Government that does more to harness the wind, and the and new, emerging technologies. I will do this because I believe in climate change. I believe human beings contribute to climate change, and is is as disappointing to me, as it is to many millions of Australians, that we do not have a price on Carbon. And in the future, we will need one. But first we will need to establish a community consensus for action. If elected as Prime Minister I will re-prosecute the case for a Carbon price, at home, and abroad. I will do that as global economic conditions improve, and as our economy continues to strengthen.

This is is excellent to hear. The carbon industry in Australia has been hammered by the government’s reversal on the CPRS with hundreds of millions of dollars in value collapsing amongst Australia’s listed ‘carbon companies’, in parallel to the rest of the world. Carbon Planet has not been immune from this either. Right now the carbon markets are a place for the true believers.

A formal mechanism for putting a price on Carbon is vital. Moreover that mechanism should be predicated on funds going towards projects with a minimum of friction, but with the highest standards of oversight, assessment and carbon accounting. I believe what we need is harder targets that harden to 110% below 1990 levels by 2050, fewer exemptions, limited free permits that are phased out quickly, a sunset on coal mining (30% of the world’s emissions come from Australia’s coal.) I doubt that stretch-target is achievable, but it’s what we need. — DS

Technorati Tags: #spill, #spillard Spillard, Australia, Australian Politics, Julia Gillard, politics, teamjulia

Carbon Planet is Greenhouse Friendly™

Dave Sag — Mon, 03 May 2010 08:44:08 +0000

Clipping from the letter from the DCCEE

The Australian Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has officially re-certified Carbon Planet’s operations and services as being carbon neutral under the soon to expire Greenhouse Friendly™ programme.

We were the first carbon management company ever to have its operations and services awarded Greenhouse Friendly™ certification and today’s re-certification reiterates our commitment to walking the walkwhen it comes to tackling climate change. I mean seriously, would you trust a company that had not bothered to formally neutralise its own services to look at your firm’s carbon management?

The Greenhouse Friendly™ programme will shortly be replaced by the National Carbon Offset Standard and Carbon Planet is already well underway to ensuring that it meets those requirements. In the meantime check out the Government’s list of companies that provide truly carbon neutral services, we think we’re in pretty good company there. — DS

Technorati Tags: carbon neutral, Carbon Planet, Greenhouse Friendly, Greenhouse Friendly™, National Carbon Offset Standard, NCOS

Mel and Kim visit Operation Coolenation HQ

Dave Sag — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:54:38 +0000

Carbon Planet’s primary schools programme, Operation:Coolenation® scored a visit yesterday from Mel Hawksley and Kim Oliver, two Bachelor of Education students from the University of South Australia, who wanted to experience first hand a day in the life of the Cooelnation project. They had this to say:

As University of South Australia students coming to an organisation we didn’t know much about, it was good to meet the staff in the Carbon Planet office and learn about all the hard work that gets done.

Being Bachelor of Education students, our learning focus was Carbon Planet’s school program, “Operation Coolenation”. We got to read through brochures, newsletter articles and the teacher resources pack. We also came up with some practical implications for the classroom and reviewed some websites related to global warming and carbon emissions.

As pre-service teachers who are almost beginning teachers, it was good to see that the teacher resource books contains background knowledge for teachers as well as the materials needed to conduct these activities with students in the classroom. As pre-service teachers, we often understand the feeling of wanting to learn more about a topic in order to teach it to students, and knowing you have found a credible source to support you is one of the main goals. Being presented with a comprehensive resource on touchy subjects such as global warming and carbon emissions, gives teachers the confidence to present these topics to their students.

Global warming and carbon emissions are an important global issue that students should be aware of as it has a direct relevance to their lives. Carbon Planet provides the link for students and teachers between not knowing and being uninformed, to understanding and taking action.

If you teach young kids then I urge you to check out Operation: Coolenation®. It really is an amazing, award winning teachers resource designed specifically to teach the science of climate change to primary school aged children.

You can follow Operation: Coolenation® on twitter; see @coolenation and facebook, see facebook.com/OperationCoolenation. — DS

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Thank You Captain Planet!

Dave Sag — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:16:29 +0000

Protect the environment or I’ll f*#%’n kill you!

Frustrated media mogul Ted Turner becomes Captain Planet and takes direct action. Hilarious. — DS

Technorati Tags: Adult Swim, cartoon, funny, Ted Turner, video

Try the UK National Carbon Calculator

Dave Sag — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:00:25 +0000

Wow I just reduced carbon emissions in the UK by 45% from current levels. How? Well I closed all its coal fired power stations, and then closed oil and gas fired power too. I shut half of the UK’s nuclear reactors and built some massive solar and offshore wind farms. I reduced blighty’s reliance on imported food and improved manufacturing efficiency by a mere 12%. Then I mandated 50% electric cars, 100% electric rail, and moved heaps of freight from the roads and the skies and onto rail as well. I did all this and overall reduced travel and consumption by a realistic 0% and kept my energy production in a slight surplus. I’m now thinking of building giant underground batteries to keep the nation going even if another volcano blacks out the sun for a few months.

You can have a go yourself using the Guardian’s awesome interactive National Carbon Calculator.

The one thing it didn’t show me was how long all my changes might take and how much they’d cost. Nor did they give me an option for moving more people onto bikes, improving the walkability of cities, or give me the option to beam power down from giant space mirrors and grow rooftop gardens. That’s how I’ll get my next 45% reduction to be sure. — DS

Electric Cars and a Better Place

Dave Sag — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:15:32 +0000

The Ted Talk above by Shai Agassi is all the more remarkable given it was given in 2009 and, since then, his vision is starting to be rolled out. The Better Place network is being rolled out in Canberra, where I live, and the Renault Fluence electric car that uses Better Place’s charging system will be sold here for around AU$45,000 they believe. I got to take one for a test drive last year in Copenhagen and they are awesome. – DS

Technorati Tags: Better Place, carbon, clean energy, clean tech, climate, Climate Change, CO2, Shai Agassi